Acting on Desire

By Amos Lassen

“Five Married Men” is a deep look at bisexuality. A married man confesses that he is sexually attracted to his best friend who shares his feelings. They find three other men like themselves and the five meet for an occasional orgy. We begin to understand about acting on desires and the results of doing so and we face the question of much one is willing to lose in order to gain a bit of pleasure after years of denial.

The characters are well developed and likable and the plot is interesting. Martin Brant uses experience, research and imagination to give us a fictional story that reads like reality.

Bisexuals are a marginalized group in society–not really fitting into either the gay or the straight communities. Brant’s book gives us insight into the bisexual lifestyle. This is not a depressing look at the issue. Sure, there are some feelings of betrayal but there are also some provocative scenes as well. I flung myself feeling empathy for the characters.

David, a contractor, has feelings for James. a lawyer. They are both happily married men. David decides to tell James about the feelings he has and he learns that James shares these same feelings and their lives are changed forever. They give into their desires and then look to bring other men into their circle. During one summer, five masculine and attractive men, all happily married, build a secret life separate from their careers and their wives. They try to dismiss the guilt that they feel.

Regardless how one may feel about same sex relations, we see that love can take on many forms and it needs to be expressed. James and David love each other and through them we learn about aspects of the human condition. The two are honest and honorable and they do not want to betray their wives but they are not able to hide their feelings. Giving into the way they are the other three characters feel we see both suffering and emotional punishment on one hand and release on the other hand.

Brant writes openly and realistically and he raises important questions about the issues of bisexuality, monogamy, masculinity and sexuality. Brant writes well and the book is quite disturbing at times because it is so serious, The ending will really give you something to think about.